Rio McFarlane was inadvertently caught in the crossfire of a petty dispute between rival gangs police said today as his killer was jailed for a minimum of 35 years.

Rio McFarlane was shot dead in Peckham in September 2010. Credit: Metropolitan Police

The promising footballer was shot in the chest by Leon Pacquette in Peckham, south London in 2010.

"Rio was neither in a gang nor involved in criminality, but he inadvertently ended up in the crossfire of a petty dispute between rival gangs," Detective Constable Richard Williamson, Trident Gang Crime Command, said.

"For the sake of Rio's family, I am pleased that we have been able to bring the man responsible for his murder to justice and we hope today's verdict offers some comfort to them."